- What to do in Portugal in winter?
- Nature reserves in spring
- Beach season
- Tasting wine in the Alentejo
- Acquaintance with the capital
- Lisbon and surroundings
Many people dream of coming to the edge of Europe to discover a country with an interesting history, magnificent architecture and unique ocean resorts. And Portugal is happy to reveal all the secrets to its guests: more than once here you will hear interesting stories about the era of great geographical discoveries, about the conquests of the Moors, about the Order of Christ, which united the former Knights Templar, about kings whose names sounded on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.
For several weeks in Portugal you can see castles, as if descended from the pages of fairy tales; endless sandy beaches, on which the ocean waves roll with a crash; taverns serving the freshest fish that swam in the ocean in the morning; ancient villages; equally old vineyards; cute yellow trams; lonely lighthouses and many more interesting things.
It is impossible to unambiguously recommend when is the best time to relax in Portugal. This country is attractive at any time of the year. In winter they come here for shopping, in spring - for trips to natural parks, in summer - for a carefree vacation on the hotel's terrace by the ocean, in autumn - for a comfortable trip to amazingly beautiful cities and villages.
What to do in Portugal in winter?
If you are planning to escape from the cold winter to the gentle, cool summer, then you should pay attention to Portugal. In the winter months, the air temperature rarely drops below 15 degrees Celsius, which means that any tourist can find something to their liking here. What to do in Portugal in winter?
- Go on excursions. It should be remembered that one month a year - in January - only open-air museums do not work. All other museums, castles, churches are open to the public. In winter, travel to ancient villages and towns is much easier to bear than in summer.
- Celebrate Christmas and New Year. Go to Christmas markets. Visit the Christmas village in Obidos with a skating rink, merry-go-rounds, ice bar, Santa Claus, who is here called Pai Natal.
- Refresh your wardrobe at the sales that start right after the New Years and last until early March.
Nature reserves in spring
In March-April, prices for accommodation in Portugal drop significantly. This period is considered a low season, but it is in the spring that it is best to come to this country for those who like hiking in natural parks. In the spring, nature reserves in Portugal are especially ornate: trees and shrubs are covered with lush flowers.
The most popular and the only park in Portugal, which is recognized as national, is the Peneda-Gerês nature reserve, located in the north of the country. It covers an area of about 70 thousand hectares. The park is crossed by six rivers with picturesque waterfalls. The variety of local landscapes is striking: there are moorlands, oak and birch groves, mountain ranges in which several dozen villages are located at high altitudes, a couple of ancient castles, skansen.
Tourists come to the park at the mouth of the Sadu River to admire the local waterfowl, the Alvan Reserve is famous for its ringing waterfalls of amazing beauty, the Arrabida Park is famous for its luxurious Mediterranean vegetation and two beaches.
Beach season
The high season in Portugal starts in the middle of summer - in July. In June, the ocean is already warming up enough to swim in it, but there are still very few vacationers, and the cost of rooms in hotels pleases. Accommodation prices skyrocket in July. The beach season lasts until October.
The most popular among travelers is the Algarve region, which is located in the south of the country. Local resorts located on the Atlantic coast receive thousands of tourists from all over the world every year. The capital of the Algarve province is the city of Faro, near which there is an international airport.
Tasting wine in the Alentejo
The Portuguese region of Alentejo is little developed by tourists. Time seems to have stopped here in the XV-XVI centuries. Here, like many years ago, grapes are grown, and then wine is made from it. True, the "golden age" of local winemaking began in the first half of the 20th century and continues to this day. The vineyards are interspersed with groves of cork and olive trees. Here and there there are old Latifundiusz farms that continue to function.
Better to relax in Portugal when the grapes are harvested, that is, in early autumn. Then, in the small snow-white towns of the Alentejo region (Evora, Elvas, Regengos de Monsaras), a period of tastings of local wine begins, which takes prizes at international exhibitions. There is a free wine tasting center in Évora where wine flows like water. Once a week, the center's assortment is replenished with new wines brought by local winemakers. The exposition of a specialized museum opened at the center tells about the methods of producing local wine.
Acquaintance with the capital
To explore the architectural beauties of Portugal, it is better to choose summer or autumn. In autumn, walking along the narrow streets of cities, entering churches and examining fortresses will be much more comfortable than in a sultry summer.
Lisbon is the capital of Portugal, located at the mouth of the Tagus River. It is there that most travelers arrive to then disperse around the country. Lisbon became the capital in 1147. There are very few buildings younger than 1755. Almost the entire city was destroyed in the middle of the 18th century by a strong earthquake. The Chancellor, the Marquis of Pombal, decided not to restore old Lisbon, but to create a new city in its place with a completely different street layout. What he did - we see now. The easiest way to appreciate the efforts of the marquis is in the Baixa area. You can look at the straight streets and spacious squares from a height by taking the Santa Justa elevator up the hill where the Bairro Alto quarter is located.
Lisbon and surroundings
The most interesting quarter of Lisbon is Alfama. It was founded by the Moors at the beginning of the 8th century and has remained unchanged to this day. On the one hand, it is bounded by the wall of the castle of St. George, to which there are steep streets with buildings whose facades are decorated with azulejo tiles. Do not miss the 2 observation decks on the way to the fortress.
No less interesting than the capital of Portugal, its suburbs. For example, the Belém region is the former port of Restelu, from where Vasco da Gama sailed in 1497. After his return, the Monastery of the Jeronimites was built here, which still exists today. In its western part there are two museums - archaeological and marine.
Another unusual area of Lisbon, Expo-98, appeared from scratch by the time of the International Exhibition. It seemed that the architects here were competing with each other in the construction of the most daring, from an architectural point of view, building. The casino is located in the former Pavilion of the Future, built in the form of a sail. The ocean pavilion, reminiscent of an aircraft carrier, houses an aquarium. The Utopia Pavilion, which looks like a plate of aliens, has been converted into an exhibition center.
